October lead recalls a record

By By Maurice Possley

Oct 26, 2007 | 12:00 AM

The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday announced six more recalls of products tainted with lead paint or metal, raising the total of lead recalls in October to 25 -- the highest monthly total of such recalls in the 30 years that the agency has been policing the banned toxic metal.

The 25 recalls this month are more than have been announced in any single year over the past three decades.

Also recalled for lead paint were 97,000 toy garden tools sold by Jo-Ann Stores Inc. and 142,000 purple Halloween pails with witch decorations sold in Family Dollar Stores.

The commission also announced the recall of 110,000 WeGlow children's metal jewelry sold by WeGlow International and 198,000 pieces of children's jewelry sold under the names of Beary Cute, Expressions and Sassy & Chic, all sold by Greenbrier International Inc. The items contain high levels of lead metal, the agency said.

A Tribune analysis of CPSC data shows that since lead was banned in 1977, the agency has issued 179 recalls for products tainted with lead paint or metal.